Page 7

7. Violet :

(There is no emoji more confusing than the winky face)

Charlie:

Well?

Violet:

Well, what?

Charlie:

Did you get the part?

Violet:

I’m there now. Just waiting to hear.

Charlie:

You’ll get it. My fake girlfriend is born for the stage.

Violet:

I appreciate your support.

Charlie:

I’m already on my way to the bookstore for a copy of Shakespeare’s Complete Works.

Violet:

You really don’t have to help me. Stella will run through them with me. It’s cool.

I eased my feet off the chair in front of me and sat forward.

Scrolling to the top of Charlie’s messages I read through them again. Just like I had yesterday and just like I had the day before that. Four times he’d mentioned rehearsing lines with me. Five if you counted this last one, and he was going to the bookstore for a copy of Shakespeare’s Complete Works .

Maybe he was joking about that last bit.

I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t tell a lot of things about Charlie Masterson, it seemed.

I also wasn’t sure why I was so insistent on him not helping me, because there in equal parts black and white were my responses every time. I’d kept them lukewarm at best.

First off, it was pointless having him help. I’d never be able to concentrate. My chest was already thudding erratically at the thought, so to sit across from him while he recited lines for me? Yeah, nope.

And really, there’s no way he had time. His finals were in less than six months, and he had the Boat Race. Which, according to my brother, was far more important.

So really, me declining his help was the best solution all around – he’d have more time for training, and I wouldn’t be distracted by the way his mouth moved as he spoke to me.

But I’d yet to deter him.

The tell-tale buzz of a new message only proved my point, and I scrolled back down to the bottom.

Charlie:

I’m not taking no for an answer, plus Shakespeare’s one subject I don’t know much about. You can teach me

That. That winky face. Who puts a winky face? What did it even mean? I was intelligent enough to get into Oxford, but understanding that winky face was beyond my skills of interpretation.

‘Stel …’ I leaned into her and whispered as quietly as I could. ‘Stel …’

‘What?’ she replied, not bothering to look at me.

In fact, she barely moved from the eager, upright position she’d been sitting in since we’d arrived.

She was doing what I should be doing – namely paying attention to Cecily and Linus on the stage in front of us, discussing the forthcoming production of Twelfth Night before they announced who’d been awarded the coveted main roles. I’d paid attention for as long as I could, but they lost me when a debate started over official poster design, and whose name should go above the credits.

I didn’t need to look around to know I wasn’t the only one not giving them their full attention. Half the heads of people on the six rows in front of me were dipped down, clearly scrolling through their phones for something much more interesting. I wasn’t even sure why Cecily and Linus were going into such minute details, considering half of everyone in here didn’t know what job they were about to be given. Not to mention half of that half would then up and leave once they didn’t get the job they’d wanted.

I hadn’t expected it to be quite so popular, but there had to be enough people in here to fill the role of every single Shakespeare character in every play he’d written and still have some left over to read the Sonnets. Even Stella was finding it way more interesting than I expected her to. I glanced up to see if I’d missed something, but now they were going on about lighting, so for the life of me I couldn’t figure it out.

It was only when the doors at the back of the theatre flung open, hitting the wall behind with a loud clatter, that I realized why they’d been stalling.

‘Damn,’ she grumbled, sinking back into the crushed velvet of the theatre chair. ‘For a second I genuinely thought he wasn’t coming, and they were going to announce someone else.’

I glanced at the time on my phone. ‘Wow, fifteen minutes late is pushing it, even for him.’

Leo Tavener’s arms spread wide in the air as he marched purposefully towards the stage, his strategically placed dark blond hair flopping over one eye.

‘Sorry. So sorry everyone. I apologize profusely for my tardiness, my agent loves to talk and sometimes it’s nearly impossible to get off the phone.’ His laugh boomed over the wave of giggles and not very well disguised sighs.

Plus, the loud scoff directly to my right. ‘Gimme a break.’

Of course, Leo Tavener was why more people had auditioned for this play in the history of all plays held at the Oxford Playhouse, and why there was a waiting list to volunteer.

‘Bloody hell, look at Cece. She practically has cartoon hearts floating around her.’

My eyes flicked over to where Cecily Caruthers was indeed looking a little flushed as she beamed down at Leo, who was now making a great production of removing his thick scarf and winter coat, while simultaneously bowing.

‘I can’t watch this.’ Stella shrunk down in her seat by another degree. ‘Anyway, what were you saying before?’

‘When?’

‘Just then. Before Marlon Brando walked in,’ she replied. ‘You nudged me.’

My forehead creased a little as I tried to figure out what she was talking about, then wondered how I’d ever forgotten.

‘Oh. Oh! Yeah.’ I opened up my messages and passed the phone to her. ‘Read these.’

Her eyes scanned through the texts. A funny little gurgling started up in my belly, wondering if she would maybe, possibly, come to the same conclusion I had. Because I wasn’t entirely sure, but it was something that had struck me during a middle of the night insomnia session.

‘Stel, do you think … Is Charlie flirting with me?’

I was well acquainted with a guy who flirts. Without sounding like my ego needed knocking down a few rungs, I knew what it was like when a guy flirted with me. It happened on a regular, if not fairly regular, basis. In fact, there was a guy on my English course who flirted with me every week in our Historical Prose lecture, and I let him because it was fun.

But this … in no world I lived had Charlie Masterson ever flirted with me. It was something I’d never even been able to conceive within my imagination, and I could imagine a lot. Therefore, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions because I hadn’t spent enough time with him to have knowledge of his flirting skills. Yet I’d also spent enough time with him to know for sure he didn’t seem like the winky face type of guy.

‘I’ve been going over and over it,’ I muttered, filling the silence between us as she continued reading, while the rest of the theatre was yet to settle from the excitement of Leo being in their midst. ‘We’ve never spent time together before, I can’t tell. But he seems to really want to rehearse lines with me. It’s not just being polite right, or do you think it is? I mean even if he is flirting it doesn’t mean anything, but I can’t tell …’

‘Vi, shut up,’ she hissed, stopping me in my semi-conscious brain dump. ‘I’m trying to think.’

I held my mouth in a hard line as she scrolled to the top again and read from the beginning. I waited. And waited.

‘Stel …’ I almost whined.

She held the phone out for me to take. ‘Look, you could say he’s just being friendly, which he is. And if these came from anyone else you probably wouldn’t think about it, but also you guys are doing your thing publicly and these are private …’

I turned to her, my eyes wide in anticipation of the verdict, ‘And?’

‘I think he’s flirting.’

‘Shit.’

‘Yeah, but I don’t know what it means outside that.’

I slumped down in my chair, just like she had.

‘You guys definitely have chemistry, even if it is weirdly awkward. I’m assuming you haven’t knocked heads again.’

A little chuckle popped through my lips. ‘No. No more collisions.’

‘Have there been any more non-kisses?’

‘Not really. Nothing that counts anyway.’ I shook my head.

There was really very little to report. Charlie had met me after class twice in the last week, as well as for coffee, and we’d walked through the streets to his class, taking the long route. Every time we’d held hands, or his arm had been over my shoulder as per rule 6. But he hadn’t so much as kissed my cheek. There’d been no kissing or non-kissing much to my dismay, because that non-kiss had been the hottest thing I’d ever done, or hadn’t done. Whatever it was or wasn’t, I’d told Stella about it the second my legs had been able to move again, which had been a good five minutes after Charlie jogged off to his next class.

It had taken me that long to recover. Not that I really had recovered. But seriously how could something which barely involved any touching be so insanely hot?

My entire body had felt like it had been dipped in paraffin and set alight. By the time he’d finally dropped his hands and run his fingers through my hair I could feel my heartbeat in every cell of my body. The vest under the grey jumper I’d so carefully selected had been completely soaked through.

‘Nope, nothing. I bet my bloody brother threatened him or something,’ I grumbled. ‘But even so the non-kiss was only for Evie’s benefit. If I hadn’t spotted her, he’d have stayed where he was.’

Evie.

All of it was for the benefit of Evie and Evie alone, and I’d actively reminded myself of the fact every day. I could still see the faint blue biro markings where I’d written THIS IS NOT REAL on my hand as a panicked reminder two days ago, when he’d come to meet me after my Victorian Poets class and all I’d been able to think about was how good he looked in jeans and a cable knit. Like he’d just stepped out of a magazine.

Goosebumps erupted over my skin at the memory and I turned my palm over again to check. I should probably go over the letters with permanent marker.

‘Maybe, but I stand by my assessment. I think he’s flirting. But it could mean nothing, Vi. Guys flirt.’

My belly gave another little flippy gurgle thing. ‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah. You should totally have him rehearse lines with you,’ she hissed. ‘I thought you put it in your rules anyway.’

‘But that’s in public.’

‘So do it in private.’

It was as I took my phone back that I realized the incessant chatter in the theatre had dropped to almost silent, and I looked up to find Linus glaring at us.

‘If you two have finished your own meeting, can we get on with the one the rest of us have come here for?’

‘Sorry, Linus,’ mumbled Stella, and the pair of us immediately sat up straighter, a feat in itself considering Linus’ glare was usually considered withering at the very least. Every single person on the rows in front of us turned around to see who he was talking to, and it would have been hard to tell if Leo hadn’t stood up from the front and waved.

‘Ah there you are, Stella, hello. Glad I could persuade you to come and join in our merry show. Let’s chat after, okay?’

‘I hate him,’ she hissed.

I had to bite down on a loud laugh at the look of fury on Stella’s face, especially because even Linus seemed to take it as a warning not to call us out again. One loud clap of his hands and the attention of everyone in here was back on him.

‘Welcome. Welcome. Thank you all for joining us, and thank you for being part of the journey for Oxford University’s summer production of Twelfth Night . This year promises to be a very exciting time for all of us, and it goes without saying that we are ecstatic to welcome award-winning actor, Leo Tavener, as Duke Orsino. It’s the first time in the history of Oxford productions that we’ve had an Oscar winner perform here after they’ve won their award.’

Linus’ simpering grin was only made worse by the girlish giggle he let out as he looked down at the front row. Stella groaned as Leo jumped up again, turned and waved to everyone in the rows behind him, which only increased the already deafening cheering and whistles piercing the air.

‘You’re too kind, too kind. It’s my honour, and I’m so happy to be here. Don’t forget my door’s always open if you need advice of any kind. I was once a beginner too,’ he crowed before sitting down.

Cecily, who up until this point had been mostly quiet, while also staring at Leo, cleared her throat and removed the microphone from Linus’ hand.

‘Hello, everyone. I concur with Linus, this year is going to be the most exciting year yet. You’re all on the brink of something very special.’ She grinned, though I couldn’t tell if she was smiling because she was genuinely excited about the play or because she had a very obvious crush on Leo. ‘Now, without further ado, we will announce the roles. Following this session, notices will be posted in the artists’ vestibule including back of house teams, rehearsal schedules and important dates for you to be aware of. Please do check it, and any changes we make will be emailed also.’

Everyone on the first three rows sat up straighter, the anticipation of finding out their parts buzzed like electricity throughout the theatre, especially when Leo jumped onto the stage to join Linus and Cecily.

‘Oh, hell no. If I get called, I’m not going up there.’

‘Good luck telling them that,’ I hissed back to Stella.

Cecily cleared her throat once more and looked down at her clipboard, then straight at the pair of us. A mischievous smirk quivered on her lip.

‘Starting with the supporting roles …’

Stella groaned loud enough that the group on the row two in front of us turned around.

‘The Sea Captain will be played by Simon Lamb, understudy James Barrell …’

‘Let’s save applause until the end, please. Otherwise, we’ll be here all day,’ cried Linus over a round of loud whooping and cheering.

My head fell back against the seat rest. By my calculation there would be at least ten minutes of Cecily talking, and Linus asking everyone to be quiet. The part of Hannah Smith as Washer Woman Three got an even bigger cheer.

Linus would combust at this rate. Somehow he managed to keep the excitement on a steady simmer until finally … finally we were at the role I’d been crossing my fingers about for weeks.

‘The part of Viola will be played by Violet Brooks, understudy Sarah Josephs.’

‘Yes, Vi. I knew you would,’ Stella nudged me in the ribs, ‘well fucking done.’

Thankfully he made no indication for me to join the three of them on stage so I stayed put.

‘Olivia will be played by Stella McAdams, understudy Aditi Patel.’

I reached over and squeezed Stella’s hand, ‘Eeek. We did it Stel. This is going to be such an awesome summer.’

It took another thirty minutes for the rest of the production names to be read out, which included fifteen of Leo addressing the team again to assure everyone that he would be available twenty-four/seven for any and all acting advice people wanted, before excusing himself for another meeting. Following further congratulations, and after Cecily handed all the principal characters a thick folder containing the official schedule of rehearsal times for the next month, we finally escaped only to find it raining heavily outside.

‘Let’s go and get a drink and celebrate,’ Stella said, stopping under the canopy of the theatre so we could both pull our hoods up, while cursing our lack of umbrellas.

The Blue Oar was around the corner and would provide some shelter while we waited for the downpour to stop.

‘Okay, a quick one. I have class after lunch and I have to go back to St Anne’s before.’

‘Let’s go.’

We sprinted down the street as fast as we could. And I found a new use for Cece’s giant folder, as I held it over my head for extra protection. We’d only been in the theatre a little over an hour, yet it was enough time for huge puddles to form on the road. Stella let out a loud screech as a car came around the corner, only to hit a puddle – the people five metres in front of her were showered with a wall of water. Completely soaked.

‘Bloody hell,’ she cried, shaking off the excess of puddle which had caught her, ‘hope they’ve got a change of clothes.’

As usual, the Blue Oar was busy, though mostly with people who had the exact same idea as us. Shelter.

‘Go by the fire,’ I called to Stella as she charged in, pushing through the heavy doors. ‘I think I spotted a spare table.’

I was so focused on getting out of the rain, and dry, I didn’t notice anyone in my path as I shook my folder free of water while simultaneously trying to remove my coat without getting anything else wet.

‘Hey, watch it,’ snapped a voice to my left.

‘God, I’m so sor—’ I spun around to find who I’d accidentally soaked, the apology already forming on my lips. But it died just as quickly.

I just caught her pale blue eyes flaring in recognition at who’d inadvertently bumped into her, before they narrowed to barely more than a slit. Even with the ferocious clench of her jaw and hard purse of her lips Evie was incredibly beautiful. I ignored the way my stomach churned as a reminder that this woman in front of me was the woman Charlie once loved. This small, dark-haired person who was my exact opposite looked like she was trying to melt me with her glare.

I cleared my throat, while Evie didn’t move a muscle, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.’

Stella was calling me from the table she’d secured, and it soon became obvious Evie wasn’t going to say anything, but as I turned to walk away her voice cut through the noise.

‘I’m going to get him back.’

I spun around, slowly, using the time to figure if I’d heard what I thought I’d heard. ‘Excuse me?’

Her arms crossed over her chest as her chin jutted up defiantly. It was a wholly unnecessary move, because everything about her screamed defiance. It struck me that this was a girl who was used to getting exactly what she wanted when she wanted it, and I was merely a pawn in her way.

‘I’ve asked around about the two of you. You haven’t been together long.’

I stood there, staring, waiting to see if she was done making her statement or if she had more to add. I did my best not to let the panic flush over me at the thought of Evie asking any questions about me or us period, because at this stage it probably wouldn’t take much for her to make assumptions which would be too close to the truth. It became clear why Charlie seemed so genuinely terrified of her.

‘Charlie and I have history, and we always find our way back to each other.’

‘Not this time,’ I found myself saying.

Evie’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Always, Violet.’

‘I don’t think so.’ I stepped in closer, kind of enjoying the way her neck had to crane back, because it was that or step away, but I already knew she’d never give up her ground. I doubted that anything intimidated her, even though I was giving it my best effort. ‘Charlie’s not a game to be played with, only for you to get bored again.’

‘Who says I’m going to get bored this time?’

I shrugged, ‘It doesn’t matter, because there’s not going to be a this time.’

‘We’ll see.’

I stood there staring down at her, trying my hardest not to blink. My ribcage was rattling so hard from the force my heart was pumping adrenaline through me that by the time Evie eventually turned around and walked away I realized I’d been holding my breath.

‘Vi … hurry up, what are you drinking?’ Stella shouted over from the table she’d secured but it was the buzz of my phone that jolted me into moving.

Charlie:

Now the proud owner of one copy of Shakespeare’s Complete Works. It’s massive! This could double as my workout.

Charlie:

When’s our first session?

Underneath he’d sent a picture of himself, his face so impossibly happy at what he’d accomplished that I could only laugh.

I couldn’t be certain that I wouldn’t have made one last attempt to dissuade him from wanting to help me if I hadn’t bumped into Evie. But I didn’t give it a second thought as I typed out my response.

Violet:

I’m free this evening.